Dear Editor,
Guyana’s entry into the world of oil production is a transformative opportunity that should be embraced and celebrated by all Guyanese living in Guyana or previously touched by its waters and streams.
With commercial production seemingly just six months away, I offer some suggestions to the Government of Guyana, Guyanese entrepreneurs, the private sector and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited to tangibly mark the occasion.
1. Pins/badges: round, one inch in diameter; blue background, sky blue at the top and sea blue at the bottom; representation of an FPSO, in silvery battleship grey color, riding the waves, at the centre of disc; inscription of Liza Destiny in gold print at the top arc of the badge; and Guyana in gold print at the bottom arc of the badge. Do not use any color associated with political affiliations. Badges are for free distribution.
2. First oil: small vials containing 2.5 mls of first day oil; vials made of clear, durable, shatter resistant material; each vial hermetically sealed; etched with the words, “First Oil: Guyana: 2020”. For sale to the public for a small price.
3. Public finger dip ceremony: invite the general public to a finger dip ceremony. Have barrels of oil in stainless steel barrels for the public to dip one finger, just to touch the oil from the first day’s production. (Have lots of paper wipes and trash containers available too). Free to all. Multiple locations across Guyana.
4. Display of core samples of host rock from Liza 1 wells. Multiple locations.
5. Display of replica of Liza Destiny; perhaps about 10 feet in length and to scale, to show what is done where in the vessel.
6. National Library: formally open an oil and gas section in the National Library with subscriptions to all major oil and gas journals, both print and electronic.
7. University of Guyana: Launch of Petroleum Library to include reference books and online access to all major sources of information relating to the oil and gas industry.
8. National Museum: Unveiling oil and gas section containing seismic logs, models, samples, replicas of equipment, etc. used in Guyana so far.
9. Groundbreaking for Guyana Petroleum Museum which is to evolve to become the Guyana Petroleum Museum, Library and Hall of Fame. (Readers interested in this idea might refer to my foreword to the 2018 edition of the Guyana Annual magazine).
10. National Art Collection: Art competition with winning piece becoming part of the National Collection. Top pieces for display at Castellani House for maybe a month.
11. National day of celebration: hosted jointly by the President, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition, whoever they might be at the time, and the CEOs of ExxonMobil, Hess Corporation and NEXEN Corporation. Might include prayers, parades, limes, parties, festivals, etc.
12. Brent: Emphasise and celebrate that Guyana’s oil is of top quality Brent oil, which produces higher quality end products and less residuals, giving it a premium price of about six dollars more per barrel than ordinary crude oil.
13. Stainless steel badges shaped like an oil drum with the words, “Guyana: Brent oil: Liza 1. 2020”. These badges intended for sale.
14. Steel band: sponsorship of an “oil song” that is easily adaptable for a steel band.
15. Commemorative gold coin, like Guyana’s real gold coin minted in 1994 to mark Queen Elizabeth’s visit. To be issued by the Bank of Guyana. Perhaps around one and a half ounces of gold, preferably gold mined in Guyana if that can be guaranteed. Denomination of half a million Guyana dollars. Guyana’s Coat of Arms, encircled by Bank of Guyana at the top and 2020 at the bottom of the obverse or head side, and artistic rendition of Liza Destiny riding the sea and “Five hundred thousand dollars” on the reverse or tail side of the coin. For sale to the public for half a million Guyana dollars. Mintage restricted to 100 coins. (I will order five to start with and hereby commit to buy up to 50 more if the Bank of Guyana is unable to sell them by the end of 2020).
16. Commemorative book to include, among others, pictures of the drill ships used in Liza 1; pictures of Liza Destiny’s commissioning, leaving Singapore, arriving in Guyana’s waters, moorings, topsides, storage compartments, other photogenic features, etc; seabed graphics; timelines; comments from key stakeholders; glossary of commonly used oil and gas terms; samples of seismic logs; summaries of petroleum engineers and reservoir engineers analyses; perhaps the personal stories of the first finders’ reactions when they realised that they were onto something big; pictures of the Guyanese working on board and their first person stories and anecdotes; brief profiles of the companies involved, including the seismological investigators, drillers, subcontractors etc.
17. Pendants and other jewellery made in gold or silver, in the shape of a floating oil platform or oil barrel or drill ship by local goldsmiths for sale to the public.
18. Models in Guyana hardwoods of oil-related items on themes such as above, for sale as souvenirs and as art to the public.
Editor, I hope your readers will have some fun with these ideas by improving or modifying them or by conceptualising better ones. And if any of these are implemented, I hope to be invited to the party!
Yours faithfully,
Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh
